Chapter Eight

A short time later, Parthena hugged the violin case to her chest while their trunks were loaded atop the carriage. Not even Corman bothered to see the disgraced Holm women out. Like everyone else, he was in the drawing room as Belinda sang off-key to the Duke of Wexham.

She hugged the violin tighter. Confused and saddened. Could she have misunderstood Wexham's intentions towards her?

No. Impossible. Wexham felt as she did.

"Then why am I standing here?" she whispered under her breath.

Fidelia took her arm and led her forward. "Well, at least we won't have to act as bookends for that performance." She nodded in the direction of the drawing room. "I'm sure Wexham is wishing he were deaf right about now. I didn't even get to bid Mr. Shore goodbye."

"I didn't throw myself at Wexham." Parthena's brow wrinkled. "That is to say I may have kissed him first, but—"

"Shush, Thena." Fidelia lowered her voice. "Mama will hear you. She is already beside herself if she is threatening you with marriage to Captain Rogers. Perhaps you misinterpreted his manner towards you."

"I did not," she stubbornly asserted.

"He is a duke , Parthena," Fidelia hissed. "Lady Belinda is the daughter of a marquess. They are the same. We are daughters of an impoverished country squire. Related to no one of consequence especially now that Lady Baldwin has discarded us."

"Just because a pair of slippers are more than I can afford and made for another young lady does not mean they won't fit me perfectly."

"A duke is not a pair of slippers." Fidelia stopped. "Whatever you are thinking, Parthena, do not embarrass yourself or your family any further."

She could still hear Belinda singing. The musicale wasn't over yet. The doors to the drawing room would be open. Wexham did not want her gone. She refused to believe it. But Lady Baldwin did.

"Lady Baldwin wouldn't have asked me to leave unless she worried I had garnered the duke's affection."

"Thena."

"I am not wrong." Parthena felt the truth inside her bones. "But if I am, Wexham will at least know what is in my heart. Considering Mama wishes to marry me off to Captain Rogers, I am willing to take the risk." She broke away from her sister, violin case stuck beneath her arm and ran around the side of Lady Baldwin's home. The windows would be open. She would stand outside.

"Parthena!" Mama cried from the carriage. "Come back this instant."

Deftly avoiding a cluster of shrubs, because that would be very bad if she caught herself in their branches, Parthena skidded to a halt on the lawn, the light from the drawing room spilling out over the grass. The windows, just as she expected, were open wide to let in the cooler air. A bold, grand gesture was required on her part, so that there could be no further doubt on the state of her affections. Whether accepted or not.

Wexham sat one row back, on the side Parthena would have stood. A frown pulled at his beautiful mouth.

Play for me Parthena. Only me.

So she did.